Hearts triumph in power surge

Ray Hepburn

6 Aug 1992

Hearts 3, Falkirk 0

HEARTS gathered their first league points of the season at Tynecastle last night against a Falkirk side who were a big disappointment.

The dominance of the home team was seldom broken in a match where the major question was whether Hearts could finish their work.

Two goals by John Robertson and one from Scott Crabbe, all in the second half, earned them victory and also offered Robertson some statistical relief.

His first home league goal arrived just a little earlier than last season.

Then, despite scoring his customary 20, it was February before he hit his first in the premier division.

More than 8000 fans saw Hearts start the match as if their defeat by Celtic on Saturday represented incentive enough.

Tosh McKinlay headed down an Eamonn Bannon cross from the right into the six-yard box, and when Ian Westwater dived to clear from John Robertson, Ally Mauchlen drove just over from 20 yards.

The traffic was all flowing one-way.

Nine minutes into the second half Hearts scored the goal their pressure merited.

Mauchlen's free kick from the right was forced toward goal by Bannon from close range and Robertson diverted the ball neatly into the corner of the net.

After an hour Bannon was involved again on the left when his cross offered McLaren the chance to bullet a header toward goal, but John Hughes popped up to block what appeared to be another on-target effort.

Hearts scored their second goal through Crabbe, just four minutes after he had replaced the injured Baird.

After 71 minutes centre back Hogg turned a McKinlay throw-in back across goal from the bye-line, and Crabbe's header looped over Westwater and defender Neil Duffy on the line.

Two minutes from time Falkirk were harshly treated when Robertson seemed to fire a cross against John Hughes' arm, and the striker took and scored the penalty himself.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, Levein, Hogg, Van de Ven, Robertson, Mauchlen, Baird, Wright, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Snodin, Crabbe.

FALKIRK -- Westwater, Duffy, McQueen, Johnston, Hughes, May, McAllister, Taylor, Drinkell, Sloan, Smith.

Substitutes -- Baptie, Cadette.

Referee -- D Hope (Erskine).

Taken from the Herald